Wine CountryThe Santa Maria Valley Wine Region & AVASanta Maria Valley Wineries & WinemakersA Guide to Wine Tasting in Santa Maria ValleySanta Maria Wine VarietalsSanta Maria Wine TrolleyFoxen Canyon Wine Trail$500 Wine Weekend Book A Room Everything you need to know about wine tasting in the Santa Maria Valley. It’s no secret that California’s Central Coast is a world-renowned wine-growing region. The unique geography of the Santa Maria Valley pairs perfectly with the temperate Central Coast weather. This dynamic duo produces a Mediterranean climate that allows wine grapes to spend extra time on the vine developing complex and unique flavor profiles. The result is universally loved and easy-to-pair Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah. Read on for our favorite ways to taste your way through more than 30 winery tasting rooms in Santa Maria Valley wine country. Hop on the Santa Maria Valley Wine Trolley The award-winning Santa Maria Valley Wine Trolley runs a route to some of the region’s most popular wineries every weekend from May to October. The trolley route begins in Old Town Orcutt, near the CORE Winery Tasting Room, Naughty Oak Brewing Company, Blast 825 Brewery and Vino et Amicis, as well as many dining establishments. The trolley makes stops at Presqu’ile Winery, Cottonwood Canyon Winery and Costa de Oro Winery. The route takes about an hour, and your ticket allows you to step on and off the trolley at your leisure all day. You can buy tickets for the Wine Trolley at several wineries and other venues in Santa Maria and Orcutt. Check here for more information. Explore the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail The Foxen Canyon Wine Trail is a 30-mile stretch of road between Santa Maria and Los Olivos that’s host to 14 wineries. While visiting any of the wineries on the trail, you’ll be rewarded with delicious wines and stunning views of vineyard-lined roads and hillsides shrouded in fog. You can cruise the trail in your car but be sure to have a designated driver. You can finish your Foxen Canyon trip in Old Town Orcutt where you can have dinner and a celebratory glass (or two!) of wine. Take a Guided Cycling Tour If you bring a bike to the valley, you can take a cycling tour of the region guided by local winemaker, winery owner and former semi-pro cyclist, Dave Corey. Dave owns CORE Winery, and he started the Bike & Bottle Project to provide guided cycling tours for locals and tourists alike. Dave’s in-depth knowledge of the region allows you to customize each tour based on distance, elevation and difficulty. Wine Taste for Less The Santa Maria Valley boasts some of the best wine on the Central Coast and the second-oldest AVA in California. But one of the best parts about our valley is that you can see and do more. You can take a wine weekend getaway for two people for $500 or less. Be sure to bring your hotel key card with you when you go wine tasting, because if you show it at participating wineries—including Cambria Estate Vineyard and Winery, Cottonwood Canyon Winery, Riverbench Vineyard & Winery and others—you can receive a tasting for free!
U-Pick Blueberries Those looking for a fun family outing have come to the right place at U-Pick Blueberries. Combining sunshine and working together to pick fresh blueberries and strawberries to take home to enjoy, U-Pick Blueberries is open March through July. Find out more on the U-Pick Blueberries Facebook Page. Located at: 3607 Dominion Road Santa Maria […]
Root 246 The property that’s now home to Root 246 was known for years as the Meadows Restaurant. When the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians purchased the Meadows in 2007, the tribe looked to transform the old restaurant into a contemporary, yet elegant destination unlike anything the region had ever seen. Root 246 offers a full […]
Chick-Fil-A Come visit Chick–fil-A in Santa Maria – Enos Ranch for delicious options such as our signature chicken sandwiches, salads, chicken nuggets, and more!
Far Western Tavern A contemporary California ranch cuisine inspired by local traditions, Far Western Tavern is recognized as a landmark of Santa Maria-style barbecue, the renowned regional fare rooted in native tradition, first popularized by the 19th century rancheros. Meals here are prepared with fresh flavors from nearby farms, ranches and vineyards.
March 20 Naughty Oak: Jacob Cole + AR Catering Jacob Cole is a California based independent artist. Previously fronting Saint Anne’s Place and King Cole, he has grown into a well rounded singer/songwriter and performer reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen, early Tom Petty and current artists not unlike Kurt Vile and Cass McCombs. Check him out from 7:00 to 10:00 pm in our taproom. AR […]
March 21 Naughty Oak: Saturday Beer Yoga Join Courtney for SATURDAY beer yoga on March 21st at 10:00 am! You’ll leave this class refreshed, relaxed and quenched. Ticket includes one hour of yoga and your first pint of beer. Class size is very limited, so please reserve your ticket in advance to guarantee your spot. Tickets can be purchased in advance at […]
March 21 Los Flores Ranch: Star Gazing Party Enjoy amazing views of star clusters, planets and more through telescopes provided by one or all of these local groups- Central Coast Astronomy Society, Astronomy Club of Lompoc, Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit and Juno our resident telescope. Feel free to bring your own telescope and a chair. Gate will be open a half hour early […]
March 27 Naughty Oak: Ted Lennon + Debilz Mobile Kitchen Ted Lennon’s voice “comes through soft like water and saturates the listener with soulfulness and depth.” His music is similar to Jack Johnson and the like. Check Ted out fin our taproom from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Also, come see what Chef Ben has cooked up for us this time. Ben makes a habit of […]